The Silver Fern

My post match interviews from the game:

@Stargazer A lot of attacking talent in the back line for the bay Ravouvou had a good game and was replaced at half time By Narawa who was just as dangerous when he came on. Forward pack was really dominant and I never felt like Waikato would get back into it. The Waikato Centre had a great game defiantly got the better of Webber.

@DrivingMaul thanks for all the post match interviews over the 1st round of the Mitre 10 Cup ..very professionally done..✅👍

@bovidae Cat's out of the bag then.

@damo don’t worry about missing the game,there was about 25,000 empty seats that missed the game as well..
But congratulations all the same..!

KiwiPie said:

I'm having a bad feeling about this game - didn't need some of the top performers out and putting players in for first starts in key positions.

But I'm naturally pessimistic.

I hate being spot on ..... semis not impossible with the direct competition still to play but starting to look like we'll need to win them all.

The worst 40 mins of rugby in a while by Waikato but I give Southland credit for being abrasive and forcing mistakes. A much better 2nd half by Waikato and helped by better subs coming on.

5 pts and flush the dunny.

@williethewaiter said in Taranaki v Waikato - Ranfurly Shield:

@chris-b said in Taranaki v Waikato - Ranfurly Shield:

@hooroo An extra glass of what? Water?

What happened to the days of being written off for three days (and your bosses expecting it) because you'd won the Shield? 🙂

this is one of the shit things about the NPC format now - the players don't even get to celebrate it properly - certainly no crazy stories like the old days.. cause they have to defend it 4 days after winning it.

rubbish!

Did you celebrate though?

They all look the same. 🤣

this thread is comedy gold. the difference 10 days can make!

glad i didn't put my thoughts onto 'paper' after that Auckland performance...

I'm guessing Tuipulotu will start the game off the bench and Olmstead kicks down as the backrower cover instead of Sotutu.

@bovidae Not sure, I am told maybe tomorrow. Fingers crossed!!

@bovidae said in Manawatu v Waikato:

Anyone know if the Manawatu player has been cited for the cheap shot on Tucker?

NZR is extremely shit when it comes to publishing citings and decisions on citings. I remember finding them last year, but don't quite remember where. I'll keep an eye on it.

What a dick move.

I was just reading this:

Greg Cooper has joined the Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars as head coach with former Highlanders and All Blacks prop Carl Hoeft as his assistant. The Dynaboars play in the Top Challenge League - the second tier of Japanese professional rugby - and are based in Sagamihira in the Kanagawa prefecture, 47km from Tokyo. Their squad includes ex-All Black Walter Little's son, Michael, a midfield back currently playing for the Sunwolves Super Rugby team and former Ta$man and Northland five-eighth Daniel Hawkins.

@gunner too right. Very foolish

The online article is more comprehensive than what I had read in the newspaper.

@WillieTheWaiter What has Waikato spent on player salaries in recent years compared to other provinces? I remember reading that it was well below the salary cap, largely due to the historical debt owed by the WRU.

As mentioned it is hard to keep players (and develop them) if there are better offers in Europe/Japan and they are not getting a SR contract.

Imgur

@reprobate

During the live interview with Smithy at end of first half, he responds to a question about the Canterbury attack with something like 'well, they're fucking good'

Another embarrassing 2nd half from Waikato. I guess the only consolation is at least I'm not supporting Auckland, Hawke's Bay or Southland. 😉

Sullivan got badly exposed on defence a couple of times but he has talent.

Savea could have been playing for Waikato based on that performance - poor.